Electrode for non-aqueous electrolytic battery, non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery, and battery pack

ABSTRACT

An electrode for battery has an electrode mixture containing a binder and an active material particle selected from at least one of a carbonaceous material, a metal particle and a metal oxide particle formed on a current collector. When cutting strength of an interface between the current collector and the electrode mixture is represented by “a” and cutting strength in a horizontal direction within the electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b&lt;1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2013-064013 Mar. 26, 2013 and No. 2014-050610 Mar. 13, 2014; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an electrode for non-aqueous electrolytic battery, a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery, and battery pack.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, with rapid development of a size reduction technique for electronic equipment, a variety of types of mobile electronic equipment are becoming widespread. Then, batteries which are power sources of the mobile electronic equipment are also required to be reduced in size, and a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery with a high energy density is attracting attention.

A non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery using metal lithium as a negative electrode active material has a very high energy density, but it deposits a dendroid crystal called “dendrite” on a negative electrode to make a battery life short, and has a safety problem such as a problem of dendrite growing and reaching a positive electrode to cause an internal short circuit. Hence, as a negative electrode active material in place of metal lithium, a carbon material that occludes and desorbs lithium, especially graphite carbon, has come to be used.

Further, an attempt has been made to especially use, as a negative electrode active material that seeks for a still higher energy density, an element to be alloyed with lithium such as silicon or tin, or a material having a large lithium occlusion capacity and a high density such as amorphous chalcogenide. Among them, silicon is capable of occluding lithium up to a ratio of a silicon atom to a lithium atom being 1:4.4, and a capacity of the negative electrode per mass is about ten times as large as that of graphite carbon. However, silicon makes a large change in volume which accompanies insertion and desorption of lithium in a charge and discharge cycle, and hence silicon has a problem with a cycle life, such as pulverization of an active material particle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual view of a negative electrode of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged conceptual view of the non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of a battery pack of the embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of the battery pack of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electrode for non-aqueous electrolytic battery includes a electrode mixture containing a binder and an active material particle selected from at least one of a carbonaceous material, a metal particle and a metal oxide particle formed on a current collector. When cutting strength of an interface between the current collector and the electrode mixture is represented by “a” and cutting strength in a horizontal direction within the electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<1.

A lithium ion secondary battery using Si or the like as a negative electrode active material has a high energy density, and hence it is necessary to take a more sufficient measure to ensure safety than other secondary batteries. As such a measure, generally, in order to prevent an increase in battery temperature as a positive electrode material and a negative electrode material become physically and chemically unstable to generate heat, a charging voltage is controlled using a voltage control circuit so as not to exceed a predetermined value.

However, when overcharge is performed without control of a charging voltage due to operation failure of the voltage control circuit, a separator melts by excess electric energy stored in the battery to cause a short circuit between a negative electrode and a positive electrode, and the electric energy excessively stored in the battery is instantly released to cause abrupt joule heat generation, whereby a battery temperature abruptly increases, and in the worst case, ignition occurs. Hence there has also been taken a measure such as addition of an inorganic material or the like to improve heat resistance so as to prevent heat shrinkage and melting of the separator due to heat generation by excessive charge.

Further, in order to prevent battery ignition in overcharge of such a lithium ion battery, it is known that the separator and a nonwoven fabric of glass fiber, alumina fiber or ceramic fiber are installed inside the battery. When the separator melts due to heat generation in overcharge, any of the glass fiber, the alumina fiber and the ceramic fiber remains while a shape of the nonwoven fabric is maintained. Hence the negative electrode and the positive electrode do not come into contact with each other to make a short circuit, thus allowing prevention of an abrupt temperature increase.

However, since any of the glass fiber, the alumina fiber and the ceramic fiber is an insulator and a current hardly flows between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the electric energy stored in the battery by overcharge cannot be released. Further, processing on the overcharged battery is not preferable in terms of safety. Thereupon, the inventors adopted a negative electrode in the following embodiment, to solve such a problem.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described.

(First Embodiment)

A negative electrode of a first embodiment has a structure in which a negative electrode mixture containing a negative electrode active material is supported on one surface or each surface of a negative electrode current collector. FIG. 1 shows a sectional conceptual view of the negative electrode of the first embodiment. A negative electrode 100 of FIG. 1 is configured of a current collector 101 and a negative electrode mixture 102 formed on one surface of the current collector 101. The negative electrode mixture 102 of the first embodiment is configured of a negative electrode active material and a binder. An additive agent such as a conductive material may be contained in the negative electrode mixture 102. The electrode of the embodiment may be used in various type of battery. The electrode of the embodiment may be also used for a positive electrode.

A thickness of the negative electrode mixture 102 is preferably in a range of not smaller than 1.0 μm and not larger than 150 μm. Therefore, when the negative electrode mixture 102 is supported on each surface of the current collector 101, it has a total thickness in a range of not smaller than 2.0 μm and not larger than 300 μm. A preferable range for the thickness thereof on one surface is not smaller than 20 μm and not larger than 100 μm. When the thickness is in this range, a large current discharge characteristic and a cycle life are significantly improved.

A preferable blending ratio of the active material, the conductive material and the binder of the negative electrode mixture 102 is: the active material being in a range of not less than 80 mass % and not more than 95 mass %; the conductive material being in a range of not less than 3 mass % and not more than 18 mass %; and the binder being in a range of not less than 2 mass % and not more than 7 mass %. These ranges are preferable because favorable large current discharge characteristic and cycle life can be obtained.

As the negative electrode active material in the first embodiment, metal lithium, a lithium alloy, carbonaceous materials capable of occluding and releasing lithium [cokes, graphite, (natural graphite, artificial graphite, etc.), pyrolytic carbons, sintered compacts of organic polymer compounds, carbon fibers, activated carbon], and at least one of one or more selected elements which are selected from Si, Sn, Al, In, Ga, Pb, Ti, Ni, Mg, W, Mo and Fe, an alloy including one or more the selected elements, an oxide of one or more the selected elements, and an alloy including one or more the selected elements, and the like are used singly or in combination of two or more of them. The alloy may also include other metal element.

Among them, a desirable aspect of the negative electrode active material according to the first embodiment is a particle including a complex dispersed in a carbonaceous material in the state of being contained or retained in a silicon oxide phase where microcrystal Si is strongly bound with Si in an active material obtained by making fine silicon monoxide compound with a carbonaceous material and sintering it, as well as a particle which is obtained by these being finely compounded. Further, the silicon oxide phase retaining and containing Si preferably has an average size of not smaller than 50 nm and not larger than 1000 nm and exists as having been distributed in the carbonaceous material in a uniform state where a value of (standard deviation/average size) is not larger than 1.0 in a standard deviation with a size distribution defined by (d84%−d16%)/2.

The silicon phase inserts and desorbs a large amount of lithium, to greatly increase the capacity of the negative electrode active material. Expansion and shrinkage of the silicon phase due to insertion and desorption of a large amount of lithium is alleviated by dispersing the silicon phase in the silicon oxide phase and the carbonaceous material to prevent pulverization of the active material particle, while the carbonaceous material phase ensures conductivity which is important as the negative electrode active material, and the silicon oxide phase is strongly bound with silicon and has a large effect on maintenance of a particle structure as a buffer for retaining silicon having been made fine.

The silicon phase greatly expands and shrinks at the time of occluding and releasing lithium, and in order to alleviate this stress, the silicon phase is preferably dispersed as having been made as fine as possible. Specifically, it is preferably dispersed with a size ranging from a several nm cluster to not larger than 100 nm at the maximum.

While the silicon oxide phase takes a structure of amorphous, crystalline or the like, it is preferably dispersed in the active material particle uniformly in the form of being bound with the silicon phase and including or retaining this. However, as the microcrystals Si retained in this silicon oxide repeatedly occlude and release Li at the time of charge and discharge, they are mutually bound to grow a crystallite size, thus causing reduction in capacity and deterioration in initial charge and discharge efficiency. Accordingly, in the present aspect, the size of the silicon oxide phase is made small and uniform, to hinder the growth of the crystallite size of the microcrystal Si, thereby suppressing capacity deterioration due to the charge and discharge cycle and improving the life characteristic. A preferably average size of the silicon oxide phase is in a range of 50 nm to 1000 nm. It is to be noted that a size of the phase is a value of a diameter at the time of conversion to a circle corresponding to an area of a cross section of the phase. When the average size is larger than this range, the effect of suppressing the growth of size of the microcrystal Si cannot be obtained. Further, when it is smaller than this range, dispersion of the silicon oxide phase becomes difficult at the time of producing the active material, and there also occurs problem such as deterioration in rate characteristic and deterioration in initial charge and discharge capacity efficiency due to deterioration in conductivity as the active material. The average size is further preferably not smaller than 100 nm and smaller than 500 nm, and when it is in this range, a particularly favorable life characteristic can be obtained. Moreover, in order for the active material as a whole to obtain favorable life characteristics, the size of the silicon oxide phase is preferably uniform. When a 16% cumulative diameter at a volume fraction is represented by d16% and a 84% cumulative diameter at a volume fraction is represented by d84%, with respect to a standard deviation represented by (d84%−d16%)/2, a value of (standard deviation/average size) is preferably not larger than 1.0, and moreover, when it is not larger than 0.5, an excellent life characteristics can be obtained.

The carbonaceous material obtained by being made to compound with the silicon phase and the silicon oxide phase inside the particle is favorably graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, amorphous carbon, acetylene black or the like, and is made up of one or a few of those, preferably graphite alone or a mixture of graphite and hard carbon. Graphite is preferable in terms of enhancing the conductivity of the active material, and has a large effect in covering the whole hard carbon active material and alleviating expansion and shrinkage. The carbonaceous material is preferably formed in the shape of containing the silicon phase and the silicon oxide phase. Further, in the complex where the particulate silicon oxide phase is dispersed, a carbon fiber is preferably contained so as to retain the particle structure, prevent condensation of the silicon oxide phase and ensure the conductivity. Hence it is effective when a diameter of the added carbon fiber is a size approximately the same as that of the silicon oxide phase, and an average size is preferably not smaller than 50 nm and not larger than 1000 nm, and particularly preferably not smaller than 100 nm and not larger than 500 nm. A content of the carbon fiber is preferably not less than 0.1 mass % and not more than 8 mass %, and particularly preferably not less than 0.5 mass % and not more than 5 mass %

Further, lithium silicate such as Li₄SiO₄ may be dispersed on the surface or the inside of the silicon oxide phase. It is thought that performing heat treatment on lithium salt added to the carbonaceous material causes a solid reaction with the silicon oxide phase within the complex, to form lithium silicate.

A SiO₂ precursor and a Li compound may be added into the carbonaceous material having the structure of covering the silicon phase and the silicon oxide. Adding these materials into the carbonaceous material strengthens the bond between the carbonaceous material and SiO₂ generated from silicon monoxide, and also generates in the silicon oxide phase Li₄SiO₄ excellent in Li-ion conductivity. Examples of the SiO₂ precursor include alkoxide such as silicon ethoxide. Examples of the Li compound include lithium carbonate, lithium oxide, lithium hydroxide, lithium oxalate and lithium chloride.

A particle diameter of the negative electrode active material is preferably not smaller than 5 μm and not larger than 100 μm, and a specific surface area thereof is preferably not smaller than 0.5 m²/g and not larger than 10 m²/g. Each of the particle diameter and the specific surface area of the active material has an effect on a speed of insertion and desorption reactions of lithium and has a large effect on the negative electrode characteristics, but with a value in this range, the characteristics can be stably exerted.

Further, a full width at half maximum of a diffraction peak of the Si (220) plane in a powder X-ray diffraction measurement for the active material is preferably not smaller than 1.5° and not larger than 8.0°. The full width at half maximum of the diffraction peak of the Si (220) plane becomes smaller as s crystal grain of the silicon phase grows larger, and when the crystal grain of the silicon phase grows larger, cracking and the like tend to occur in the active material particle, accompanying expansion and shrinkage due to insertion and desorption of lithium. However, when the full width at half maximum is within the range of not smaller than 1.5° and not larger than 8.0°, it is possible to avoid such a problem coming to the surface.

A ratio of the silicon phase, the silicon oxide phase and the carbonaceous material phase is preferably that a molar ratio of Si and carbon is in a range of 0.2≦Si/carbon≦2. The quantitative relation between the silicon phase and the silicon oxide phase is desirably that the molar ratio is 0.6≦Si/SiO₂≦1.5 because it is possible to obtain a large capacity and a favorable cycle characteristic s as the negative electrode active material.

Further, the negative electrode mixture 102 may contain the conductive material. Examples of the conductive material may include acetylene black, carbon black and graphite.

As the current collector 101, there can be used a conductive substrate with a porous structure or a nonporous conductive substrate. These conductive substrates can be formed of copper, stainless or nickel, for example. A thickness of the current collector 101 is desirably from not smaller than 5 μm and not larger than 20 μm. This is because, with this range, the balance between the electrode strength and weight saving can be taken. Among these substrates, copper containing a copper alloy is most preferable in terms of the conductivity.

The negative electrode mixture 102 contains the binder for binding the negative electrode materials to each other. As the binder, for example, there can be used polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF), polyacrylic acid, alginic acid, polysaccharides such as cellulose, and derivatives thereof, an ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polyimide, polyamide, polyamideimide and the like. Among these, a polymer having imide groups such as polyimide is preferable from the viewpoint of large binding strength of the current collector and the negative electrode materials. Further, two or more of the above may be used in combination for the binder, and the negative electrode 100 excellent in life characteristic can be produced when a binder excellent for binding the active materials to each other and a binder excellent for binding the active material and the current collector 101 are used in combination or when one with high hardness and one with high flexibility are used in combination.

At the time of these members constituting the negative electrode 100, when the cutting strength of the interface between the current collector 101 and the negative electrode mixture 102 is represented by a [kN/m] and the cutting strength in an arbitrary horizontal direction within the negative electrode mixture 102 is represented by b [kN/m], the negative electrode is produced such that a/b<1 holds. That is, design is made so as to weaken adhesion of the interface between the current collector 101 and the negative electrode mixture 102. Therefore, the binder concentration in the negative electrode 100 is distributed so as to be lower on the current collector 101 side. With such a configuration formed, volume expansion which accompanies overcharge facilitates separation of the current collector 101 and the negative electrode mixture 102 from each other. For the above reason, a/b<0.85 is preferable, a/b<0.8 is more preferable, and a/b<0.7 is further more preferable. It is to be noted that the minimum value of a/b is preferably 0.3 from the viewpoint of charge and discharge cycle characteristics.

In addition, as a method for evaluating the cutting strength a of the interface between the current collector 101 and the negative electrode mixture 102 and the cutting strength b in the arbitrary horizontal direction within the negative electrode mixture 102, there is a test in SAICAS (Surface And Interfacial Cutting Analysis System). This is a technique of performing cutting with a fine and sharp cutting blade while controlling a depth position thereof with respect to the sample surface, to measure stress that is applied on the blade. A cutting measured value of the interface between the current collector 101 and the negative electrode mixture 102 includes friction resistance due to the cutting blade coming into contact with the surface of the current collector 101. The cutting strength a is to be a value obtained by subtracting the friction resistance from the cutting measured value of the interface of the negative electrode mixture 102. The cutting strength a of the interface between the current collector 101 and the negative electrode mixture 102 can be measured by fixing the depth position of the blade to the interface. At this time, a constant required load is applied on the cutting blade in a current collector 101 direction. The constant required load is force of the tip of the cutting blade being kept abutting the interface between the negative electrode mixture 102 and the current collector 101, and the cutting (separation) strength a of the negative electrode mixture 102 with respect to the current collector 101 is calculated. Further, the cutting strength b in the arbitrary horizontal direction within the negative electrode mixture 102 can be measured by fixing a height of the cutting blade within the electrode mixture to a constant required height. The height at this time is based on a distance from the current collector 101. In the embodiment, the cutting strength b is to be measured in a region half as large as an average thickness of the electrode mixture. The region half as large as the average thickness of the electrode mixture is a region within ±20% of the average thickness of the negative electrode mixture from the surface of the negative electrode mixture 102. A moving speed of the cutting blade is to be a required constant speed.

Here, friction resistance to be used in calculating the cutting strength a is resistance force that is generated when only the current collector is prepared and the cutting blade is moved over the surface thereof with the same load as the one set at the time of measuring the cutting strength a.

Moreover, each of the cutting strengths a, b is to be an average value of strength measured for 200 seconds after the lapse of 100 seconds from arrival of the cutting blade at the set depth. The measurement is performed in a region except for the end of the electrode. It is preferable to perform the measurement at least three places, and use an average value of the respective measurement results. It is to be noted that a temperature of the sample in analysis is, for example, a room temperature. Each sample is preferably measured at the same temperature.

The thickness of the negative electrode mixture 102 can be measured with ease by use of a contact-type thickness measuring device such as a linear gauge sensor, or the like. The thickness of the mixture can be measured by subtracting the thickness of the current collector 101 alone from the measured thickness of the electrode.

(Second Embodiment)

A non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery according to a second embodiment will be described.

The non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery according to the second embodiment is provided with: an exterior member; a positive electrode housed in the exterior member; a separator housed in the exterior member; a negative electrode containing an active material and housed in the exterior member as spatially separated from the positive electrode, for example via the separator; and a non-aqueous electrolyte with which the exterior member is filled.

A more detailed description will be provided with reference to conceptual views of FIGS. 2 and 3 showing one example of a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery 200 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional conceptual view of the flat non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery 200 with a bag-like exterior member 202 made of a laminate film, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a part A of FIG. 2. It is to be noted that each view is a conceptual view for the description, and a shape, a size, a ratio or the like of each of some places is different from in an actual device, but design of these can be changed as appropriate in view of the following description and known techniques.

A flat wound electrode group 201 is housed in the bag-like exterior member 202 made of a laminate film with aluminum foil placed between two resin layers. The flat wound electrode group 201 is formed by spirally winding up a laminate formed by laminating a negative electrode 203, a separator 204, a positive electrode 205 and a separator 204 in this order from the outside, and press-molding it. As shown in FIG. 3, the negative electrode 203 of the outermost shell has a configuration where a negative electrode mixture 203 b is formed on one inner surface of the negative electrode current collector 203 a. Other negative electrodes 203 are configured by forming the negative electrode mixture 203 b on each surface of the negative electrode current collector 203 a. The active material in the negative electrode mixture 203 b includes a battery active material 200 according to the second embodiment. The positive electrode 205 is configured by forming a positive electrode mixture 205 b on each surface of a positive electrode current collector 205 a.

In the vicinity of the outer peripheral end of the wound electrode group 201, a negative electrode terminal 206 is electrically connected to the negative electrode current collector 203 a of the negative electrode 203 of the outermost shell, and a positive electrode terminal 207 is electrically connected to the positive electrode current collector 205 a of the internal positive electrode 205. The negative electrode terminal 206 and the positive electrode terminal 207 protrude outside from an opening of the bag-like exterior member 202. For example, a liquid non-aqueous electrolyte is poured from the opening of the bag-like exterior member 202. Performing heat sealing with the opening of the bag-like exterior member 202 placed between the negative electrode terminal 206 and the positive electrode terminal 207 can seal the wound electrode group 201 and the liquid non-aqueous electrolyte.

Examples of the negative electrode terminal 206 include aluminum and aluminum alloys containing elements such as Mg, Ti, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu and Si. The negative electrode terminal 206 is preferably the same material as the negative electrode current collector 203 a so as to reduce contact resistance with the negative electrode current collector 203 a.

For the positive electrode terminal 207, there can be used a material provided with electric stability and conductivity in a range of a potential of 3 V to 4.25 V with respect to lithium ion metal. Specific examples thereof include aluminum and aluminum alloys containing elements such as Mg, Ti, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu and Si. The positive electrode terminal 207 is preferably the same material as the positive electrode current collector 205 a so as to reduce contact resistance with the positive electrode current collector 205 a.

Hereinafter, the bag-like exterior member 202, the positive electrode 205, the negative electrode 203, the electrolyte and the separator 204 as constitutional members of the non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery 200 will be described in detail.

1) Bag-Like Exterior Member 202

The bag-like exterior member 202 is formed, for example, of a laminate film with a thickness of not larger than 0.5 mm. Alternatively, a metal container with a thickness of not larger than 1.0 mm may be used for the exterior member. The metal container preferably has a thickness of not larger than 0.5 mm.

The shape of the bag-like exterior member 202 can be selected from a flat shape (thin shape), a rectangular shape, a cylindrical shape, a coin shape and a button shape. Examples of the exterior member include a small-sized battery exterior member that is installed in mobile electronic equipment and the like, and a large-sized battery exterior member that is installed in an automobile with two-wheel or four-wheel drive and the like.

As the laminate film, a multilayered film with a metal layer placed between resin layers is used. The metal layer is preferably aluminum foil or aluminum alloy foil for the sake of weight saving. As the resin layer, for example, there can be used a high polymer material such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The laminate film can be molded in the shape of the exterior member by being sealed by heat fusion.

The metal container is made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy or the like. As the aluminum alloy, an alloy containing an element such as magnesium, zinc or silicon is preferable. When a transition metal such as iron, copper, nickel or chrome is contained in the alloy, an amount thereof is preferably made not larger than 100 mass ppm.

2) Positive Electrode 205

The positive electrode 205 has a structure where the positive electrode mixture 205 b containing the active material is supported on one surface or each surface of the positive electrode current collector 205 a.

The thickness of the positive electrode mixture 205 b on one surface is desirably not smaller than 1.0 μm and not larger than 150 μm in terms of retaining the large current discharge characteristic and the cycle life of the battery. Therefore, when the positive electrode mixture 205 b is held on each surface of the positive electrode current collector 205 a, a total thickness thereof is desirably in a range of not smaller than 20 μm and not larger than 200 μm. A preferable range for the thickness thereof on one surface is not smaller than 20 μm and not larger than 120 μm. When it is in this range, the large current discharge characteristic and the cycle life are improved.

The positive electrode mixture 205 b may contain the conductive material other than the positive electrode active material.

Further, the positive electrode mixture 205 b may contain the binder for binding the positive electrodes to each other.

As the positive electrode active material, it is preferable to use a variety of oxides such as manganese dioxide, lithium-manganese composite oxide, lithium-containing nickel cobalt oxide (e.g., LiCOO₂), lithium-containing nickel cobalt oxide (e.g., LiNi_(0.8)CO_(0.2)O₂) or lithium-manganese composite oxide (e.g., LiMn₂O₄, LiMnO₂) since a high voltage can be obtained.

Examples of the conductive material may include acetylene black, carbon black and graphite.

As specific examples of the binder, for example, there can be used polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF), an ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer (EPDM), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and the like.

A preferable blending ratio of the active material, the conductive material and the binder in the positive electrode mixture 205 b is: the active material being in a range of not less than 80 mass % and not more than 95 mass %; the conductive material being in a range of not less than 3 mass % and not more than 18 mass %; and the binder being in a range of not less than 2 mass % and not more than 7 mass %. These ranges are preferable because favorable large current discharge characteristic and cycle life can be obtained.

As the current collector 205 a, there can be used a conductive substrate with a porous structure or a nonporous conductive substrate. A thickness of the current collector 205 a is desirably from not smaller than 5 μm and not larger than 20 μm. This is because, with this range, the balance between the electrode strength and weight saving can be taken.

The positive electrode 205 is produced, for example, by suspending the active material, the conductive material and the binder in a general-purpose solvent to prepare slurry, applying this slurry to the current collector 205 a, drying it and then exerting a press on it. The positive electrode 205 may also be produced by forming the active material, the conductive material and the binder in a pellet form to serve as the positive electrode mixture 205 b and forming this on the current collector 205 a.

A preferable blending ratio of the active material, the conductive material and the binder in the positive electrode mixture is: the active material being in a range of not less than 80 mass % and not more than 95 mass %; the conductive material being in a range of not less than 3 mass % and not more than 18 mass %; and the binder being in a range of not less than 2 mass % and not more than 7 mass % because a favorable large current discharge characteristic and cycle life can be obtained.

3) Negative Electrode 203

The negative electrode 100 of the first embodiment is used as the negative electrode 203.

The negative electrode 203 has a structure in which the negative electrode mixture 203 b containing the negative electrode active material and other negative electrode materials is supported in a layered form on one surface or each surface of the negative electrode current collector 203 a.

Examples of a method for producing the negative electrode 203 of the embodiment include a method of applying two kinds of slurries with different concentrations of the binder to the current collector 203 a and compression-molding thereof. Preparing an electrode by this method can give a negative electrode having the characteristic of a/b<1. As for the binder concentration, specifically, the binder concentration in the first slurry to be applied to the current collector is made low, and the binder concentration in the second slurry to be applied is made high. The binder concentration of the second slurry is preferably not less than 1.5 times and not more than 5.0 times as high as the binder concentration of the first slurry. When the concentration is less than 1.5 times as high, an effect exerted on the difference in binder concentration distribution is small. Further, when the binder concentration of the first slurry is excessively high, the charge and discharge capacity is reduced. (A thickness of the first applied slurry)/(a thickness of the second applied slurry) is preferably not smaller than 0.01 and not larger than 0.1, for example. When the ratio of the first applied slurry is excessively small, the non-uniformity increases to result in variations in binding strength to the current collector within the electrode, which is thus not preferable. Further, when the ratio of the second applied slurry is excessively small, the adhesion to the current collector may deteriorate also in normal charge and discharge regions, to result in exertion of an adverse effect on the charge and discharge cycle, which is thus not preferable. Compression-molding is performed after the second slurry application. This compression-molding is performed by means of a roll press having compression force of not smaller than 1.0 kN/cm, or the like.

The examples of the method for producing the negative electrode 203 of the embodiment include a method of applying slurry to the current collector 203 a and thereafter molding the slurry with specific pressure. Pressing is preferably rolling-roll pressing. Linear pressure of the roll press is preferably not smaller than 6.0 kN/cm and not larger than 10 kN/cm. When pressing is performed with pressure lower than 6.0 kN/cm, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of not being able to obtain the negative electrode 203 with the characteristic of a/b<1. Further, when pressing is performed with pressure higher than 10.0 kN/cm, deformation of the current collector increases, and it is not preferable from the viewpoint of impairing the current collector strength. Although the electrode pressing is normally performed with pressure of not smaller than 6.0 kN/cm and not larger than 8.0 kN/cm, the above range is used in the embodiment. Performing roll pressing in such a range gives the advantage of being able to obtain an electrode with a/b<1.

The examples of the method for producing the negative electrode 203 of the embodiment include a method of performing chemical treatment on the current collector 203 a. By modifying the current collector 203 a with a compound having a bad affinity with the binder, the affinity of the current collector 203 a with the binder is weakened to control the binder concentration distribution in the negative electrode 203. After application and drying of the slurry, compression-molding processing is performed in the same manner as above.

The examples of the method for producing the negative electrode 203 of the embodiment include a method of applying slurry to the current collector 203 a and thereafter blowing a hot wind on the surface of the slurry for drying. Blowing a hot wind on the surface of the slurry leads to retention in a bilateral direction from the surface of the slurry toward the current collector 203 a, and the binder is unevenly distributed on the current collector 203 a side. A preferable condition for a hot wind amount is not smaller than 0.2 m/sec and not larger than 5.0 m/sec with respect to a 1 cm² slurry applied surface. A preferable condition for a hot wind temperature is from a temperature that subtracted 50° C. from a boiling point to a temperature that added 50° C. to a boiling point (inclusive) of a solvent being used for the slurry. After application and drying of the slurry, compression-molding processing is performed in the same manner as above.

4) Electrolyte

As the electrolyte, a non-aqueous electrolyte, an electrolyte impregnated-type polymer electrolyte, or an inorganic solid electrolyte can be used.

The non-aqueous electrolyte is a liquid electrolyte prepared by dissolving an electrolyte in a non-aqueous solvent, and is retained in a space in an electrode group.

As the non-aqueous solvent, it is preferable to use a non-aqueous solvent mostly containing a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate (PC), ethylene carbonate (EC) and a non-aqueous solvent (hereinafter referred to as second solvent) having a lower viscosity than those of PC and EC.

As the second solvent, for example, chain carbon is preferable, and examples thereof include dimethyl carbonate (DMC), methylethyl carbonate (MEC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethyl propionate, methyl propionate, γ-butyrolactone (BL), acetonitrile (AN), ethyl acetate (EA), toluene, xylene and methyl acetate (MA). These second solvents can be used singly or in the form of a mixture of two or more of them. Especially, the number of donors in the second solvent is preferably not larger than 16.5.

The viscosity of the second solvent is preferably not larger than 2.8 cmp at 25° C. A blending amount of ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate in the mixed solvent is preferably not less than 1.0% and not more than 80% in a volume ratio. A more preferable blending amount of ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate is not less than 20% and not more than 75% in a volume ratio.

Examples of the electrolyte contained in the non-aqueous electrolyte include lithium salts (electrolytes) such as lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), lithium borofluoride (LiBF₄), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF₆), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF₃SO₃), and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide [LiN(CF₃SO₂)₂]. Among them, LiPF₆ and LiBF₄ are preferably used.

A dissolved amount of the electrolyte with respect to the non-aqueous solvent is desirably not less than 0.5 mol/l and not more than 2.0 mol/l.

5) Separator 204

In the case of using the non-aqueous electrolyte and in the case of using the electrolyte impregnated-type polymer electrolyte, the separator 204 can be used. A porous separator is used as the separator 204. As a material for the separator 204, for example, there can be used a porous film containing polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF), a synthetic resin-made nonwoven fabric, or the like. Among them, the porous film made of polyethylene or polypropylene, or made of both of them, is preferable since being capable of improving the safety of the secondary battery.

A thickness of the separator 204 is preferably made not larger than 30 μm. When the thickness exceeds 30 μm, a distance between the positive electrode and the negative electrode becomes longer and may cause an increase in internal resistance. Further, a lower limit of the thickness is preferably set to 5 μm. When the thickness is made smaller than 5 μm, the strength of the separator 204 may significantly decrease to make an internal short circuit easy to occur. An upper limit of the thickness is more preferably set to 25 μm, and a lower limit thereof is more preferably set to 1.0 μm.

A heat shrinkage of the separator 204 is preferably not more than 20% when it is made to stand for an hour on the condition of 120° C. When the heat shrinkage exceeds 20%, the possibility for occurrence of a short circuit due to heating increases. The heat shrinkage is preferably made not more than 15%.

A porosity of the separator 204 is preferably in a range of not less than 30% and not more than 70%. This is due to a reason as follows. When the porosity is made less than 30%, it may become difficult to obtain high electrolyte retention in the separator 204. On the other hand, when the porosity exceeds 70%, sufficient strength of the separator 204 may not be obtained. A more preferable range of the porosity is not less than 35% and not more than 60%.

An air permeability of the separator 204 is preferably not more than 500 sec/100 cm³. When the air permeability exceeds 500 sec/100 cm³, it may become difficult to obtain high lithium ion mobility in the separator 204. Further, a lower limit of the air permeability is 30 sec/100 cm³. When the air permeability is made less than 30 sec/100 cm³, sufficient strength of the separator may not be obtained.

An upper limit of the air permeability is more preferably set to 300 sec/100 cm³, and a lower limit thereof is more preferably set to 50 sec/100 cm³.

(Third Embodiment)

Next, a battery pack using the foregoing non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery will be described.

The battery pack according to the embodiment has one non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery (i.e., single battery) or more according to the above embodiment. When a plurality of single batteries are included in the battery pack, each single battery is disposed as electrically connected in series, in parallel, or in series and parallel.

The battery pack 300 will be specifically described with reference to a conceptual view of FIG. 4 and a block diagram of FIG. 5. In the battery pack 300 shown in FIG. 4 uses the flat non-aqueous electrolyte battery 200 shown in FIG. 2 as a single battery 301.

The plurality of single batteries 301 are laminated such that a negative electrode terminal 302 and a positive electrode terminal 303 protruding outside are arranged in the same direction, and fastened by an adhesive tape 304, to constitute an assembled battery 305. These single batteries 301 are electrically connected with each other in series as shown in FIG. 5.

A printed circuit board 306 is disposed as opposed to the side surface of the single batteries 301 where the negative electrode terminal 302 and the positive electrode terminal 303 protrude. As shown in FIG. 5, the printed circuit board 306 is mounted with a thermistor 307, a protective circuit 308 and a terminal 309 for energization to external equipment. It is to be noted that an insulating plate (not shown) is fitted to the surface of the printed circuit board 306 opposed to the assembled battery 305 in order to avoid unnecessary connection with wiring of the assembled battery 305.

A positive electrode-side lead 310 is connected to the positive electrode terminal 303 located on the lowest layer of the assembled battery 305, and the tip thereof is inserted into a positive electrode-side connector 311 of the printed circuit board 306 and electrically connected. A negative electrode-side lead 312 is connected to the negative electrode terminal 302 located on the highest layer of the assembled battery 305, and the tip thereof is inserted into a negative electrode-side connector 313 of the printed circuit board 306 and electrically connected. These connectors 311, 313 are connected to the protective circuit 308 through wirings 314, 315 formed on the printed circuit board 306.

The thermistor 307 is used for detecting a temperature of the single battery 305, and a detection signal thereof is transmitted to the protective circuit 308.

The protective circuit 308 can block plus-side wiring 316 a and minus-side wiring 316 b between the protective circuit 308 and the terminal 309 for energization to the external equipment on predetermined conditions. The predetermined condition is that, for example, it is performed when the detected temperature of the thermistor 307 is a predetermined temperature or higher. Further, the predetermined condition is that it is performed when overcharge, overdischarge, overcurrent or the like of the single battery 301 is detected. This detection of overcharge, overdischarge and the like is performed on the individual single battery 301 or the whole single batteries 301. When each of the individual single batteries 301 is to be detected, a battery voltage may be detected or a positive electrode potential or a negative electrode potential may be detected. In the latter case, a lithium electrode to be used as a reference electrode is inserted into each of the individual single batteries 301. In the case of FIGS. 4 and 5, wiring 317 for voltage detection is connected to each single battery 301, and a detection signal is transmitted to the protective circuit 308 through the wiring 317.

On each of three side surfaces of the assembled battery 305 except for the side surface where the positive electrode terminal 303 and the negative electrode terminal 302 protrude, a protective sheet 318 made of rubber or a resin is disposed.

the assembled battery 305 is housed into a package 319 along with each protective sheet 318 and the printed circuit board 306. That is, the protective sheets 318 are respectively disposed on both inner side surfaces in the long-side direction of the container 319 and on the inner surface in a short-side direction thereof, and the printed circuit board 306 is disposed on the opposite-side inner side surface in the short-side direction. The assembled battery 305 is located within a space surrounded by the protective sheets 318 and the printed circuit board 306. A lid 320 is fitted to the top surface of the container 319.

It is to be noted that, for fixing the assembled battery 305, a heat shrinkage tape may be used in place of the adhesive tape 304. In this case, the protective sheets are arranged on both side surface of the assembled battery, and the heat shrinkage tape is made to surround it and then shrunk by heat, to bind the assembled battery.

The form has been shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 where the single batteries 301 are connected in series, and but in order to increase the battery capacity, they may be connected in parallel, or may be connected in series and parallel in combination. The assembled battery packs can further be connected in series or parallel.

According to the present embodiment described above, by including a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery having excellent charge and discharge cycle performance in the above embodiment, a battery pack having excellent charge and discharge cycle performance can be provided.

It is to be noted that an aspect of the battery pack is changed as appropriate according to the use thereof. The use of the battery pack is preferably one requiring a small size and a large capacity. Specific examples thereof include ones for power sources of a smart phone and a digital camera, and ones for mounting in a hybrid electric automobile with two-wheel or four-wheel drive, an electric automobile with two-wheel or four-wheel drive, an assist automobile and the like.

Hereinafter, specific examples will be cited and effects thereof will be described. However, these examples are not restrictive.

EXAMPLE 1

Artificial graphite meso carbon micro beads: (MCMB) with an average particle diameter of about 10 μm was used as a negative electrode active material, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was used as a binder, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was used as a viscosity adjusting agent in an equal amount to SBR. First, as a solid content, 99 mass % of graphite and 1 mass % of the binder composite were made into slurry such that a solid content concentration was 50 mass %, and the slurry was applied to a negative electrode current collector so as to have a thickness of about 15 μm after drying, followed by drying and compression-molding. Further, slurry, obtained by adjusting 97.5 mass % of graphite and 2.5 mass % of the binder composite such that a solid content concentration was 50 mass % in distilled water, was additionally applied, followed by drying and compression-molding with 6.0 kN/cm, to produce a negative electrode with a total thickness of 70 μm.

(Evaluation of Cutting Strength)

The produced electrode was cut into 20 mm square each, to be an evaluation sample for cutting strength. Each of the cutting strength a, b of the evaluation sample was measured by the foregoing measuring method by means of a cutting strength measuring device SAICAS (registered trademark) DN-GS type (manufactured by DAYPLA WINTES CO., LTD). A ceramic blade made of a borazon material was used as a cutting blade, and one made of ceramic and having a blade width of 1.0 mm was used. The measurement was performed at a rake angle of 20 degrees and a clearance angle of 10 degrees as blade angles at a constant speed of 2 μm/sec. The measurement was performed at a measurement temperature of a room temperature (25° C.), with a sample temperature also being the room temperature (25° C.). The cutting strength a was measured on a constant load mode of 0.5 N. Results are shown in Table 1.

(Production of Non-Aqueous Electrolytic Secondary Battery)

The non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 were produced by the following method.

A lithium cobaltate powder was added with 5 mass % of graphite having an average diameter of 6 μm and 3 mass % of polyvinylidene difluoride, and kneaded using N-methyl pyrrolidone as a dispersion medium, to prepare slurry. The obtained slurry was applied onto Al foil having a thickness of 20 μm and then rolled, to give a positive electrode. It is to be noted that the amount of slurry to be applied to the Al foil as the current collector was adjusted such that an initial charging capacity per unit area was the same between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

The obtained positive electrode and the electrode produced in Example 1 were spirally wound up with a separator made of polyethylene, to give an electrode group. The obtained electrode group was housed into an external member made of a laminate film, which was then sealed by fusion, while an electrolyte pouring unit remains unsealed, and subjected to vacuum drying at 90° C. for 12 hours. LiPF₆ was dissolved into a mixed solvent where EC and DEC were mixed at a volume ratio of 1:2, to give a non-aqueous electrolyte (liquid non-aqueous electrolyte). The obtained non-aqueous electrolyte was poured from the electrolyte pouring unit of the external member in an argon atmosphere, and thereafter the electrolyte pouring unit was sealed, to produce a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery.

(Overcharge Test)

In an overcharge test, a concern is safety especially in overcharge. Ten each of the above batteries were charged at a room temperature on conditions of 1 A and 15 V, to investigate the number of batteries where significant heat generation (temperature rise) of 100° C. or higher had occurred, and results of these were put together in Table 2. It should be noted that a thermocouple was pasted to the battery surface, to measure the temperature.

In the following examples and comparative examples, only different parts from Example 1 will be described, and the other composition and evaluation orders are the same as those in Example 1, and will thus be omitted.

EXAMPLE 2

Artificial graphite MCMB with an average particle diameter of about 10 μm was used as a negative electrode active material, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was used as a binder, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was used as a viscosity adjusting agent in an equal amount to SBR. As the solid content, slurry, obtained by adjusting 97.5 mass % of graphite and 2.5 mass % of the binder composite such that a solid content concentration was 50 mass % in distilled water, was applied onto a Cu foil-current collector, and a hot wind at 130° C. was blown from the surface thereof for drying. Thereafter, compression-molding was performed, to produce a negative electrode with a total thickness of 70 μm.

EXAMPLE 3

A carbon complex mainly containing SiO was used as the negative electrode active material.

SiO was pulverized as follows. A pulverization treatment was performed on a raw material SiO powder with ethanol used as a dispersion medium in a continuous bead mill device by use of beads with a bead diameter of 0.5 μm for predetermined time. Further, this SiO powder was pulverized with ethanol used as a dispersion medium in a planetary ball mill by use of a 0.1 μm ball, to produce a SiO fine powder.

A silicon monoxide powder obtained by the pulverization treatment and a 6 μm graphite powder were made to compound with hard carbon by a manner as follows. A mixed solution of 4.0 g furfuryl alcohol, 10 g ethanol and 0.125 g water was added with a 2.8 g SiO powder, a 0.7 g graphite powder and a 0.06 g carbon fiber with an average diameter of 180 nm, which was then subjected to a kneading treatment in a kneading machine, to be formed into slurry. The slurry after the kneading was added with 0.2 g dilute hydrochloric acid to be a polymerization catalyst of furfuryl alcohol, which was made to stand still at a room temperature, and dried and solidified, to obtain a carbon complex.

The obtained carbon complex was sintered in an Ar gas at 1050° C. for three hours and cooled down to the room temperature, which was then pulverized and put through a sieve with a diameter of 45 μm, to obtain a negative electrode active material. A mixture slurry, obtained by kneading the obtained sample with 15 mass % of graphite having an average diameter of 6 μm and 8 mass % of polyamic acid composite (polyamic acid composite obtained by mixing A:B=1:1 mass %, where polyamic acid A with pyromellitic acid anhydride and oxydianiline taken as constitutional units and polyamic acid B with solubility of 45 mass % of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) containing a benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid/meta-phenylenediamine compound) with N-methyl pyrrolidone used as a dispersion medium, was applied onto current collector copper foil. The sample was rolled by a rolling roll with a load of 6.0 kN/cm, and thereafter subjected to heat treatment in an Ar gas at 250° C. for two hours, to produce a negative electrode.

EXAMPLE 4

A powder, obtained by pulverizing massive Sn in an Ar atmosphere in a jet mill, was further pulverized into a submicron diameter in ethanol in a wet planetary mill. The Sn fine powder was isolated in the Ar atmosphere and inserted into a sucrose aqueous solution, which was then added with 1 N of dilute sulfuric acid and carbon-coated in an atmosphere at 60° C. The powder was cleaned with a hydrogen sodium carbonate aqueous solution until a pH of the cleaning solution becomes 7, and then vacuum-dried at 100° C. to obtain a carbon-coated Sn powder. A mixture slurry, obtained by kneading the obtained sample with 15 mass % of graphite having an average diameter of 6 μm and 8 mass % of polyamic acid composite (polyamic acid composite obtained by mixing A:B=1:1 mass %, where polyamic acid A with pyromellitic acid anhydride and oxydianiline taken as constitutional units and polyamic acid B with solubility of 45 mass % of NMP containing a benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid/meta-phenylenediamine compound) with N-methyl pyrrolidone used as a dispersion medium, was applied onto current collector copper foil. The sample was rolled by a rolling roll with a load of 6.0 kN/cm, and thereafter subjected to heat treatment in an Ar gas at 200° C. for 12 hours, to produce a negative electrode.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

The applied slurry of Example 2 was dried from the current collector side at 70° C. for an hour, and further dried in vacuum at 100° C. Thereafter, compression-molding was performed, to produce a negative electrode with a total thickness of 70 μm.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

The same evaluation was performed using the same materials as in Example 3 except that a rolling pressure after application of the slurry to the electrode was 2.0 kN/cm.

TABLE 1 a [kN/m] b [kN/m] a/b [—] Example 1 0.33 0.48 0.69 Example 2 0.18 0.45 0.4 Example 3 0.39 0.48 0.81 Example 4 0.35 0.54 0.65 Comparative 0.56 0.39 1.39 Example 1 Comparative 0.68 0.29 2.34 Example 2 a: cutting strength of interface of electrode mixture/current collector b: cutting strength within electrode mixture

TABLE 2 NUMBER OF BATTERIES (OUT OF 10) WHERE SIGNIFICANT HEAT GENERATION OF 100° C. OR HIGHER OCCURRED Example 1 0 Example 2 0 Example 3 0 Example 4 0 Comparative 5 Example 1 Comparative 10 Example 2

When the battery of the embodiment was disassembled to observe the negative electrode, the Cu foil-current collector and the negative electrode had been separated and the surface of the current collector had been discolored. From the results shown in Table 2, it is understood as to the negative electrode of the present aspect that, when the cutting strength of the interface between the current collector and the negative electrode mixture shown in Table 1 is represented by “a” and the cutting strength in an arbitrary horizontal direction within the negative electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the use of the negative electrode with a<b provides favorable safety in overcharge.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrode for a non-aqueous electrolytic battery, comprising: a current collector; and an electrode mixture containing a binder and an active material particle selected from at least one of a carbonaceous material, a metal particle and a metal oxide particle on the current collector, wherein, when cutting strength of an interface between the current collector and the electrode mixture is represented by “a” and cutting strength in a horizontal direction within the electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<1, the metal particle includes silicon phase, the metal oxide particle includes silicon oxide phase, and a value that standard deviation/average size of the silicon oxide phase is not larger than 1.0 in the standard deviation with a size distribution defined by (d84%−d16%)/2.
 2. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the binder is a polymer having imide groups.
 3. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<0.7, and the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b≧0.3.
 4. A non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery, comprising: an exterior member; a positive electrode housed in the exterior member; a separator housed in the exterior member; a negative electrode containing an active material and housed in the exterior member as spatially separated from the positive electrode via the separator; and a non-aqueous electrolyte with which the exterior member is filled, wherein the negative electrode is configured of: a current collector; and a negative electrode mixture containing a binder and an active material particle selected from at least one of a carbonaceous material, a metal panicle and a metal oxide particle on the current collector, when cutting strength of an interface between the current collector and the negative electrode mixture is represented by “a” and cutting strength in a horizontal direction within the negative electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<1, the metal particle includes silicon phase, the metal oxide particle includes silicon oxide phase, and a value that standard deviation/average size of the silicon oxide phase is not larger than 1.0 in the standard deviation with a size distribution defined by (d84%−d16%)/2.
 5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the hinder is a polymer having imide groups.
 6. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<0.7, and the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b≧0.3.
 7. A battery pack, comprising: one or more non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery, wherein the secondary battery comprising: an exterior member; a positive electrode housed in the exterior member; a separator housed in the exterior member; a negative electrode containing an active material and housed in the exterior member as spatially separated from the positive electrode via the separator; and a non-aqueous electrolyte with which the exterior member is filled, wherein the negative electrode is configured of: a current collector; and a negative electrode mixture containing a binder and an active material particle selected from at least one of a carbonaceous material, a metal particle and a metal oxide particle on the current collector, when cutting strength of an interface between the current collector and the negative electrode mixture is represented by “a” and cutting strength in a horizontal direction within the negative electrode mixture is represented by “b”, the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<1, the metal particle includes silicon phase, the metal oxide particle includes silicon oxide phase, and a value that standard deviation/average size of the silicon oxide phase is not larger than 1.0 in the standard deviation with a size distribution defined by (d84%−d16%)/2.
 8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the binder is a polymer having imide groups.
 9. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<0.7, and the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b≧0.3.
 10. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein a concentration of the binder in the electrode mixture on the opposite side of the current collector is 1.5 times and not more than 5.0 times as high as a concentration of the binder in the electrode mixture on the side of the current collector.
 11. The battery according to claim 4, wherein a concentration of the binder in the electrode mixture on the side of the separator is 1.5 times and not more than 5.0 times as high as a concentration of the binder in the electrode mixture on the side of the current collector.
 12. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein a concentration of the hinder in the electrode mixture on the side of the separator is 1.5 times and not more than 5.0 times as high as a concentration of the binder in the electrode mixture on the side of the current collector.
 13. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the active material contained in the electrode mixture is in a range of not less than 80 mass % and not more than 95 mass %.
 14. The electrode according to claim 1, wherein the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<0.81.
 15. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the active material contained in the electrode mixture is in a range of not less than 80 mass % and not more than 95 mass %.
 16. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<0.81.
 17. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the active material contained in the electrode mixture is in a range of not less than 80 mass % and not more than 95 mass %.
 18. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the “a” and “b” satisfy a relation of a/b<0.81. 